Introducing Kupuna Caregivers

Hawaiʻi's new program to provide benefits directly to family caregivers

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Introducing Kupuna Caregivers

Hawaiʻi's new program to provide benefits directly to family caregivers

In 2017, Hawai‘i created the Kupuna Caregivers Program. This program will help family caregivers who work at least 30 hours/week outside the home by providing a $70/day benefit in services that make caring for aging family members who are 60 and over more affordable and accessible. It can help pay for things like:

Home health care workers

Extra help preparing meals

Adult day care costs

Transportation

The goal of Kupuna Caregivers is twofold: to support caregiving families in Hawai'i in their desire to be there for their loved ones, and to do it in an innovative, systematic manner that saves the state money in the long run. Family caregivers working outside the home often struggle with balancing caregiving, work, and personal responsibilities. Kupuna Caregivers reduces the barriers to staying fully employed and providing adequate care.

Call the ADRC on their statewide line: (808) 643-2372 or on their TTY line: (808) 643-0899

Watch the video below for more information

More information

The Care For Kupuna campaign will keep you up-to-date on everything related to the Kupuna Caregivers, and any opportunities to help strengthen the program. Just fill out the form below. This will NOT enroll you for the program. It WILL ensure we canget you all the information you need to stay current with the program and it helps the Care For Kupuna campaign make sure the Kupuna Caregivers program reaches every eligible family caregiver working outside the home.

Name *

Name

First Name

Last Name

Email Address *

Phone

Phone

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Address

City

Zip Code

What kind of assistance will be provided?

Families may receive up to $70 per day in benefits to cover costs for adult day care, chore services, home-delivered meals, homemaker services, personal care, respite care, or transportation. Family caregivers do such important work, and this groundbreaking program will help offer them the support that they need.

Who is eligible for Kupuna Caregiver Services?

Qualified caregivers must be actively providing care to a care recipient while also employed at least 30 hours a week outside the home by one or more employers

A Care Recipient is someone who:

Is a citizen of the United States or a qualified alien

Is 60 years of age or older

Is not covered by any comparable governmental or private home and community-based care service, except kupuna care services

Does not reside in a long-term care facility and

Has impairments of at least:

Two activities of daily living or

Two instrumental activities of daily living or

One activity of daily living and one instrumental activity of daily living or

Substantive cognitive impairment requiring substantial supervision

Not only is this investment going to make the daily lives of family caregivers in Hawaiʻi better, it also is an inspiring step forward in addressing the economic penalties of the 44 million family caregivers across the country can incur, especially for women who take on this role. For example, 33% of working female caregivers decrease work hours, 29% pass up job promotions, trainings or assignments, 20% switch from full-time to part-time employment, 16% quit their jobs, and 13% retire early due to caregiving responsibilities. Having the ability to get help on a daily basis will provide many women (and caregiving men!) with the support they need to build their careers at the same time they can provide the quality of care that family members are so well-equipped to offer.

Care for our Kupuna

We need to enable families to be there for their loved ones, no matter what.

Care for our Kupuna

We believe that strong families and strong communities are the building blocks of Hawai'i. Kupuna Caregivers invests in both by lowering the barriers facing family caregivers working outside the home as they balance work with caregiving. And it will only become more critical in the coming years.

By 2020, nearly 300,000 people will be age 65 or older in Hawai‘i. When given the choice, most kupuna prefer aging at home. Our extended ‘ohana are often incredible care givers, but providing that care can often create financial and emotional stress. In 2016, the cost home health care in Hawai‘i was almost $10,000 higher than the national average.

The annual cost of hiring a home health aide was nearly $60,000 in 2016 and is expected to shoot up to more than $75,000 over the next decade.

In addition to meeting the challenge of skyrocketing care costs, working caregivers need support in keeping their jobs. Staying employed protects their long-term retirement security because leaving their jobs to provide care will reduce their Social Security credits.

The demand for this program is already strong; the Executive Office on Aging reported over 500 requests for services in the first few weeks after it launched in late 2017.

Building on Success

Legislation is needed to continue Kupuna Caregivers

Building on Success

Legislation is needed to continue Kupuna Caregivers

Strengthening Kupuna caregivers in 2018

Represents our values

Caring for our kupuna is part of our island culture. This program doesn't replace the way we've always cared for our elderly; it makes it easier for everyone to ensure they are getting the care they need.

Helps family caregivers

Launching the program in 2017 was a crucial first step in providing a safety net for Hawai'i's family caregivers. Now we need to extend it to as many families as possible.

Helps Hawai'i

Most people in Hawai'i prefer to age at home. Kupuna Caregivers helps make that possible. And the cost of receiving care at home, rather than in a long-term care facility or hospital, is almost always lower.

What You Can Do

What You Can Do

We need you to contact your legislators and ask them to support a real long-term plan for long-term care in Hawai‘i.

Sign here and we'll add your name to our petition.

Name *

Name

First Name

Last Name

Email Address *

Zip Code *

Phone

Phone

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The text of the petition is below:

Yes, we support the expansion of the Kupuna Caregivers program in the 2018 budget. This will enable more families to be there for their loved ones while balancing the challenges of caregiving and a job. Caring for one another is our responsibility and our honor, and Kupuna Caregivers helps ensure we can do it.

Why sign?

Caring for our community is in line with our local values. In 2017, Hawai‘i created the Kupuna Caregivers program and seeded it with $600,000 to get started. Add your name and help extend the program to more caregiving families!

When given the choice, ninety percent of people over age 65 prefer staying home to receive care rather than moving to a facility. Family members are dedicated caregivers, but providing that care creates financial and emotional stress.

Supporting home caregiving means Hawai‘i can honor the wishes of our seniors, who want to stay at home with their families, as well as help the caregiving families who work so hard to keep their loved ones at home safely.

But legislators need to know that all of us support this long-term care plan. Will you add your name and show your support today?

Our Stories

Our Stories

Our stories are incredibly powerful. Watch the videos below, and share them with your friends and family to let them know what Kupuna Caregivers could mean for people across Hawai'i.